In this article, we will discuss few Eway bill compliance highlights and also understand how a transporter should deal with practical issues around managing eway bills on case-to-case basis along with the overall impact on transport & logistics operators.

We cover the following in this article:

Transporter’s business in the earlier regime

Brief about E-Sugam Karnataka

Compliance Requirements for E way bills involving transporters

Different Cases dealt by transporters with solutions

Overall Impact of eway Bill on transporters

Transporter’s business in the earlier regime

In Karnataka, under the concept of e-Delivery Note, the law mandated every dealer to inform the department about a goods movement transaction (bulk) prior to the commencement of the goods movement, as against the old practice of dealers moving the goods first and then informing the department later, on a periodic basis. Since printouts were, difficult to obtain by some dealers, the e-Delivery Note process was reformed to e-SUGAM. So, the onus of Waybills was upon the dealers and not the transporters.

Brief about E-Sugam Karnataka

Under e-SUGAM, the system on receipt of transaction details of goods being transported of a value exceeding Rs 25,000 from the dealer, validates and generates a unique number as an acknowledgment, called the E-SUGAM number. This number and the E-sugam form then becomes the passport for the transport vehicle at the check-post. Similarly, each state had its own format of declaration forms, permits, and waybills.

Latest Update as on 23rd Mar 2018

Inter-state implementation of e-way bill is notified to be implemented from 1st April 2018.

As per the 26th GST Council Meet held on 10th Mar 2018, Intra-state implementation of Eway Bill to kick-off from 15th April 2018* in a phased manner. States to be divided into 4 lots to execute this phased rollout.

*Will come into effect once notified by CBEC

Compliance Requirements for E way bills involving transporters

An E way bill is a unique bill/document which is electronically generated for specific consignment/movement of goods(either inter-state or intra-state) of value more than Rs.50,000. EWB has to be generated by the seller/consignor. Where the seller does not generate, the transporter may do so after the authorization by the seller.

The person in charge of a conveyance shall carry the tax invoice or bill of supply or delivery challan, bill of entry as the case may be; and a copy of the e-way bill or the e-way bill number generated from the common portal.

Once E-way bill is generated, it cannot be edited for any mistake. However, it can be canceled within 24 hours of generation.

While generating e-way bill the registered person has a provision to enter the transporter id in the transportation details section (Part B). On entering 15 digits transporter id provided by the transporter, the e-way bill will be assigned to that transporter for updating the vehicle details. Subsequently, the transporter can reassign another transporter by using the option ‘Update EWB Transporter’ after which the registered person who initially generated the EWB loses power to change the Transporter.

E- Way Bill may be updated with vehicle number any number of times before expiry of validity

The latest vehicle number should be available on e-way bill and should match with the vehicle carrying it in case checked by the dept.

It often happens that goods are transported with intermediary stops in between before reaching their destination. Additionally, goods are also transported through several modes of transport such as air, rail, road etc. In both cases, the transporter needs to update the vehicle number of new vehicle and/or mode of transport in Part B of Form GST EWB 01. Also, the e-way bill in physical form is needed for delivery of goods.

If multiple invoices are issued by the supplier for movement of goods of more than one invoice of same consignor and consignee, multiple EWBs have to be generated. For each invoice separate EWB has to be generated, irrespective of same or different consignors or consignees are involved.

Multiple invoices cannot be clubbed to generate one EWB. However, after generating all these EWBs, one Consolidated EWB can be prepared for transportation purpose to reduce paperwork, if they are transported in one vehicle.

The validity period of the EWB is calculated based on the ‘approx. distance’ entered while generating the EWB and the Type of conveyance. For example if approx. distance is 525KMs then validity period is 6 days.

Refer below table for a quick guide to determine validity –

Type of conveyance

Distance

Validity of EWB

Other than Over dimensional cargo

Less Than 100 Kms

1 Day

For every additional 100 Kms or part thereof

Additional 1 Day

For Over dimensional cargo

Less Than 20 Kms

1 Day

For every additional 20 Kms or part thereof

Additional 1 Day

10. Where the goods are transported for a distance of less than fifty kilometers within the State from the place of business of consignor to the place of the transporter for further transportation, then the vehicle number is not mandatory. Similarly when the movement of goods from the place of business of transporter to the place of business of consignee is less than 50 KM within the State then vehicles details is not mandatory.

11. As per provision 138(7), E Way bill needs to be generated when there is a movement of goods in a vehicle/ conveyance of value more than Rs. 50,000( either each Invoice or in the aggregate of all Invoices in a vehicle/ Conveyance).However as per latest update as on 23rd March 2018, until a date is notified, a transporter need not generate an e way bill where the consignment individually is less than or equal to 50000 but in the aggregate exceeds 50000.

12. Empty carriers or vehicles do not require E way bills as there is no movement of goods and no value is associated. Also, it is not necessary to generate E way bills when empty cargo containers are being transported.

One of the key achievements of the e-way bill will surely be the effective dissolution of state borders. The amount of time wasted at state borders to validate documents with regards to inter-state movements of goods was a hindrance to any business which dared to spread its wings, beyond its home state.

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